Doughnut-machine.



No. 802,207. v PATENTED 003117, 1905. W. W. GRAY & P. G. VAN FLEET.

DOUGHNUT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1. 2.2, 1904.

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"VI/EN TOHS WZZ'Z'z'am 771 Gray Perry 67762222 1662- PATENTED OUT. 17,1905. W. W. GRAY & P. U. VAN FLEET.

DOUGHNUT MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0017.22, 1904.

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WITNESSES:

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vVILLlAM. WVHITHAM GRAY AND PERRY CORNELIUS VAN FLEET, OF RIVERSIDE,CALIFORNIA.

DOUGHNUT WIACl'lIINIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1905.

Application filed October 22, 1904:- Serial No. 229,565.

T at 11/71/0772 211; 'IN/(Y/Z/ concern:

Be it known that we, VVILLIAM WHITHAM GRAY and PERRY CORNELIUS VANFLEET, citi- ZGDS of the United States, and residents of Riverside, inthe county of Riverside and State of California, have invented a new andImproved Doughnut-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

On r invention relates to apparatus for forming dough into rings toproducedoughnuts. As these are ordinarily cut out from a sheet in thepresence of free flour to prevent sticking, the dough between the cutrings is rolled over and again out, resulting in a product becoming moreand more tough as this operation continues. Moreover, the loose flourcollects in the frying-fat and soon burns, thickening it so that it mustbe frequently strained, and often spoiling it completely. To obviatesuch difficulties are the principal objects of our invention.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention, partsbeing broken away. 2'is a broken end elevation'thereof. Fig. 3 is a topplan view. Fig. 1 is a broken bottom plan view, showing thedischarge-opening. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 5 5of Fig. 1-. Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the die-ring; and Fig. 7 is abroken detail in perspective, showing the-manner of attaching thepivoted frame to the receptacle.

R designates a receptacle which may be formed of a cylindrical casing10, at one extremity of which is a head 11 and at the opposite end a rim12, said head and rim being shown as provided with suitably-spacedperforated lugs 12, through which pass threaded rods 13, nuts 14: uponthe ends of these rods serving to clamp the parts together. Thereceptacle may be conveniently supported upon an arm 15 of any desiredlength, having at its outer end opposite brackets 16 16, which haveopenings to receive adjacent rods of the receptacle, while at the innerend this arm is preferably pivoted upon a suitable support 17. in thehead is an opening situated at one side of the axis of the cylinder andsurrounded by a depending flange 18. Mounted in a recess at the inneredge of this opening is a die-ring 19, the opening through which ispreferably circular to give a similar contour to thedough passingthrough it. \Vithin this die-ring is supported a core 20, preferably bythin arms 21, the opening between the core and die-ring being annular,save where it is broken by these arms, which on account of their slightthickness do not permanently divide the dough which meets and is pressedinto a continuous ring by its contact with the inner wall of the flangeand the outer surface of a depending portion 21 of the core. The side ofthe diering toward the axis of the receptacle is shown as inclinedinwardly, so that the space between it and the core is narrower thanthat of the opposite side.

In a bracket 23, which, as illustrated, projects from the outer side ofthe flange 18, and in a bracket 24, extending from the rim 12, isjournaled a shaft 25, supported by a collar 26. Upon the lower extremityof this shaft is fixed the hub 27 of a curved arm 28, which has at itsouter end an upward projection 29, from which is an extension 29 towardthe hub. The hub of the arm may be provided with a circular enlargement29", upon which is fixed a knife 30 by a suitable pin 31, said knife atits opposite end engaging a projection 32 upon a movable member andforming a chord for the arm. This member slides upon the upper face ofthe extension 29 and is adjustable thereon by means of a threaded shank34:, operating through an opening in the projection 29 and movable by anut 35, which contacts with the outer face of the projection. Threadedthrough the hub enlarge ment and the extension 29 beneath the knife areset-screws 36, which are situated upon the side of the supporting-lineof the knife, or that in which the pins lie, which is toward theknife-edge, this permitting it to be ad justed into close proximity withthe lower face of the flange 18 to insure a clean out.

At the upper extremity of the shaft 25 is fixed a bevelgear 37, whichmeshes with a similar gear 38 upon a shaft 39, journaled in brackets 39,formed upon the rim 12. One end of this shaft is squared at 10 toreceive a suitable operating-crank 41.

Pivoted at 42 upon the rim is a frame L3, from which depend portions44:, divided at their outer ends at 45. These ends straddle screws 46,projecting from the edge of the rim, and the frame may be clamped inposition by binding-nuts L7, movable into contact with inclined faces 47upon the depending portions. Mounted for reciprocation in guides 18,carried by the frame, is a rack-bar 49, at the lower end of which isfixed a plunger 50, operating within the receptacle and conforming toits cylindrical side walls. WVith the rack meshes a pinion 51, fast upona shaft 52, journaled in the frame and having its outer end squared at53 to permit engagement by the crank 41. Mounted to turn freely uponthis shaft 52 is a worm-wheel 54, having upon its hub one member 55 of ajaw-clutch, the companion member 56 of which is connected with the shaftby a spline 57 to move longitudinally into or out of engagement with themember 55. With the worm-wheel cooperates a worm 58, carried by theshaft 39.

In using the machine the top frame is turned back upon its hinges afterloosening the binding-nuts and a mass of dough placed within thereceptacle. The rack-bar being raised, the frame is then swung down andlocked in position upon therim, the plunger assuming a position withinthe cylinder. The crank is then placed upon the shaft 52 and thisrotated (the clutch being disengaged) to lower the plunger until thedough appears through the opening in the bottom of the receptacle, thisapplication of the crank furnishing high-speed gearing for securing theproper initial relation of the parts. This having been done, the crankis transferred to the shaft 39. The rotation of this slowly lowers theplunger through the low-speed worm-gearing to force the dough throughthe die-opening, and simultaneously and in the proper timing rotates theknife across the flange, separating the end of the cylinder of dough,which is forced through the die by the plunger, the space between theknife and its arm and the curved form of the latter permitting this.There is a tendency for a greater quantity of the material to flowthrough the side of the opening toward the axis of the receptacle thanat the outer side; but this is counteracted and the rings maintained ofuniform thickness by the narrowing of the opening, as has beenpreviously described. As these pieces are out they may drop directlyinto the fat or are received upon a suitable sheet placed below themachine. After the entire charge has been operated upon the plunger maybe raised by placing the crank upon the shaft 52, the frame turned back,and the operation repeated, as has just been described.

It will be seen that our improved machine is exceedingly simple and thata comparatively inexperienced person may operate it as effectively as askilled baker. It requires but little space, forms each doughnut ofuniform size, and works an entire batch without the production of scrap.Moreover, it is unnecessary to use loose flour to prevent sticking, andthus the fouling of the fat is avoided.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a doughnut-machine, the combination witha receptacle having an opening provided with a core, the opening beingconstricted at one side of the core, of a rotatable knife operatingacross the opening.

2. In a doughnut-machine, the combination with areceptacle having abottom opening at one side of its axis and being provided with a core,said opening being contracted at the side of the core toward the axis,of a rotatable knife operating across the opening.

3. In a doughnut-machine, the combination with a receptacle having abottomopeni-ng at one side of its axis and being provided with a core,said opening being contracted at the side of the core toward the axisand having an outwardly-inclined wall below the contracted side, and arotatable knife operating across the opening.

4. In a doughnut-machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a head atone end provided with an opening, a knife operating across the opening,and gearing for the knife pivotally mounted upon the opposite end of thecylinder.

5. In a doughnut-machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a head atone end provided with an opening, a knife operating across the opening,gearing for the knife pivotally mounted upon the opposite end of thecylinder, and a plunger movable within the cylinder and being mountedwith and operated by the gearing.

6. The combination with a receptacle having an opening, of an armmovable adjacent to the opening and having extensions at opposite sidesthereof, a knife secured to one of the extensions at one side of theplane of the arm, and athreaded member cooperating with the otherextension and with the knife.

7. The combination with a receptacle having an opening, of an armmovable adjacent to the opening and haying extensions at opposite sidesthereof, a knife supported by the extensions at one side of the plane ofthe arm, and a screw threaded through one of the extensions andcontacting with the knife.

8. The combination with a receptacle having an opening, of an armmovable adjacent to the opening, a knife supported upon the arm, andscrews threaded through the arm and contacting with the side of theknife.

9. The combination with a cylinder, of a head situated at one end of thecylinder and having an opening, a rim located at the opposide end, saidhead and rim being separable names to this specification in the presenceof from the cylinder, rods connecting the head two subscribingWitnesses.

and rim and serving to retain them in coac- WILLIAM WIUTHAM GRAY.

tion With the cylinder, a knife mounted upon PERRY CORNELIUS VAN FLEET.5 the head, and gearing for the knife carried by Witnesses:

the rim. W. E. COX,

In testimony whereof We have signed our GEO. A. SARLES.

